Mr. Ebbers’s conduct before and after the trial showed that he still believed he had done nothing wrong. At church services in Mississippi immediately following the revelation of the WorldCom accounting impropriety, Mr. Ebbers arrived as usual to teach his Sunday school class and attend services. He addressed the congregation, saying, “I just want you to know you aren’t going to church with a crook. This has been a strange week at best. . . . On Tuesday I received a call telling me what was happening at World-Com. I don’t know what the situation is with all that has been reported.

I don’t know what all is going to happen or what mistakes have been made. . . . No one will find me to have knowingly committed fraud. More than anything else, I hope that my witness for Jesus Christ [will not be jeopardized].” The congregation gave Mr. Ebbers a standing ovation.429 Mr. Ebbers continued to teach Sunday school each Sunday at 9:15 a.m. and stay for the 90-minute service held afterward until he reported to prison.430 What relationship do religious views and affiliations play in business ethics? Refer back to Albert Carr’s thoughts on bluffing in Reading 2.4.? p-9687